overtimeNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94overtimeSat, 16 Dec 2017 09:43:59 +0000overtimehttp://wrvo.org
Payne HorningWatertown will no longer pay overtime costs in the city's fire department that are caused by sick leave, the latest development in the bitter feud between the union and city government. City Manager Sharon Addison says Watertown paid $650,000 for the fire department's overtime costs last year. It's part of what she calls an excessive use of sick time that she has witnessed for years. So Addison has informed the fire chief that the city will not pay other firefighters overtime to fill in if one or two employees on a given shift are out on sick leave. That violates the union contract which requires that the city pay for each shift to have at least 15 firefighters on duty, but Addison says she is not concerned about any legal ramifications. "We feel that the current contract is severely restrictive on management’s ability to control staffing," Addison said. "It’s the only department within the city that we cannot control staffing nor control overtime, and this is just a decision we madeCity of Watertown stops paying overtime to cover firefighter sick leavehttp://wrvo.org/post/city-watertown-stops-paying-overtime-cover-firefighter-sick-leave
110655 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 10 Nov 2017 09:24:00 +0000City of Watertown stops paying overtime to cover firefighter sick leavePayne HorningOswego Mayor Billy Barlow is preparing to replace the city's fire department chief after a contentious year between the two that included battles over layoffs and overtime expenses.After a year of fighting, Oswego's mayor moves to replace fire chiefhttp://wrvo.org/post/after-year-fighting-oswegos-mayor-moves-replace-fire-chief
96335 as http://wrvo.orgWed, 23 Nov 2016 09:44:00 +0000After a year of fighting, Oswego's mayor moves to replace fire chiefTom MagnarelliThe city of Syracuse swore in a new class of police officers on Monday. The new recruits are filling spots being vacated by retiring officers and helping to cut down on overtime. Kimberly Dishaw of Syracuse is one of the 25 new officers. “I’m just overwhelmed, excited, ready to start class,” Dishaw said. The officers now begin 26 weeks at the police academy before another 12 weeks of field training. Speaking to the new recruits, Police Chief Frank Fowler told them it is a challenging time to be an officer. "Some may even ask themselves, 'why would someone want to go into this profession at this particular time?'" Fowler said. "It takes special people to do this special job. You have to be able to communicate. You have to be able to maintain, embrace and understand the importance of public trust." Fowler said communication is key because people are going to be the officers' best resources for information and evidence. Sgt. Richard Helterline of the Syracuse Police Department said the25 new Syracuse police officers could help alleviate overtime concerns http://wrvo.org/post/25-new-syracuse-police-officers-could-help-alleviate-overtime-concerns
85485 as http://wrvo.orgTue, 08 Mar 2016 08:51:00 +000025 new Syracuse police officers could help alleviate overtime concerns Payne HorningCities across upstate are targeting employee overtime as they wrestle with budget shortfalls. In Oswego, the city spends more than $1 million a year in overtime expenses. The costs were a key issue candidates pledged to fix during the city's recent mayoral election. Now, Mayor-elect Billy Barlow is trying to make good on that promise, saying he will make addressing overtime a top priority when he assumes office in January. "We made some really hard decisions, not all popular, but difficult, difficult decisions," said Jeff McCrobie, Oswego's fire chief. He has been cut overtime expenses since he became chief five years ago. Some of the reforms McCrobie made were forced as funding was reduced. Others, like reducing the minimum number of firefighters on a shift from 12 to 10, were proactive. "I went to 10 because of money and because I didn't want to be at seven," McCrobie said. "I couldn't run with seven." The bulk of Oswego's $1 million in annual overtime expenses comes from police andOswego targets overtime for budget savingshttp://wrvo.org/post/oswego-targets-overtime-budget-savings
81121 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 03 Dec 2015 09:02:00 +0000Oswego targets overtime for budget savingsEllen AbbottAccording to recent statistics, 2.1 million New Yorkers are cheated out of $3.2 billion in wages and benefits. Activists are trying to get the word out that this wage theft is happening here in central New York. Rebecca Fuentes is an organizer with the Workers’ Center of Central New York. She says wage theft happens when employers underpay workers, don’t pay overtime, or classify them in the wrong job description. And it makes it harder for a working family to get by. “It puts [people] in a situation where people cannot pay their rent, they can’t buy groceries. They can’t pay insurance for their car. We hear these stories all the time,” said Fuentes. But many people aren’t aware of their rights or are fearful to make waves at a workplace. That’s why the Workers’ Center fanned out recently to the vulnerable communities where this is most common. Fuentes says they simply need to know the facts. “There’s a lot of fear of retaliation, losing their job. Or sometimes it's just not knowingGetting the word out about 'wage theft'http://wrvo.org/post/getting-word-out-about-wage-theft
81156 as http://wrvo.orgWed, 25 Nov 2015 20:05:01 +0000Getting the word out about 'wage theft'Karen DeWittNew York's state comptroller says the Cuomo administration racked up a record $611 million in overtime payments over the past year. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the 16 percent increase in overtime payments between 2012 and 2013 comes mostly from employees in institutional settings, like prisons and psychiatric centers. The state police also paid troopers $35 million in overtime payments, at an average of over $74 an hour. DiNapoli says the uptick comes at a time when state government has been downsizing employees. “We ask state agencies to take a hard look at how they use overtime,” DiNapoli said. “And to certainly double their efforts to reduce what is becoming an expensive habit.” In a statement, a spokesman for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget office defended the practice. Spokesman Morris Peters says the 2.4 percent increase in overtime hours is “dwarfed by the fact that overall payroll has decreased by nearly $750 million” in the past three years.Comptroller reports state spent record amount on overtimehttp://wrvo.org/post/comptroller-reports-state-spent-record-amount-overtime
50544 as http://wrvo.orgWed, 29 Jan 2014 04:25:00 +0000Comptroller reports state spent record amount on overtimeEllen AbbottOnondaga County is cracking down on employees who pile up overtime pay which ultimately push their pensions higher. Reducing these payments could save the county millions of dollars in the long run.Lawmakers will not tolerate employees stacking overtimehttp://wrvo.org/post/lawmakers-will-not-tolerate-employees-stacking-overtime
17100 as http://wrvo.orgWed, 04 Apr 2012 14:21:10 +0000Lawmakers will not tolerate employees stacking overtime